VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt Identification of distributor & voltage regulator

I am trying to identify the application of the following DelcoRemy distributors and voltage regulators that I recently came across. I believe they are all for Chevrolets. Any help would be appreciated.

Distributor: Model #1112362, serial #OL17
Distributor: Model #1112403, serial #5J23

Regulators: Numbers stamped on mtg plate -

1) 1118300B, 6VN, 6L
2) 1119001D, 12VN, OE
3) 201 This one has long mounting screws through the cover.

I will try to make this as "un-confusing" as possible.

1112362 Dist....was originally for 1951-53 216 engines. It later books the application was extended to 1940-1953 with 216 engine. This helped to eleminate several applications. The grease cup is in the rear position. The previous yeas it was facing the right fender. Also replaces the 1941- early 1948 dist that used different points and was designed to work the the polarity reversing switch.

1112403 was originally for 1955-1962 6 Cyl. Then its application kept backing up and by the 1960's was described for all 6 cyl. engines from 1940-1962. This then eleminated the 1112362.

1118201 was the standard 1940-1950 35 amp voltage regulator. In 1951 number changed to 1118301. That covered up to 1951 and the early 1952 with the long generator. All had the long screws thru the cover until ablut into the late '60's.

1119001 is a 30 Amp reg. for 1955-1962 with the 30 amp generator. Basicaly this would be 1955-57 with power steering and all 1958-62 with 30 amp gen.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting this Gene, but if the later distributor will replace all the early ones, then what it sounds like is that all of the 6cyl distributors are physically interchangeable. In other words, the portion of the housing that the shaft goes thru and the shaft and gears dimensions were interchangeable in all of the 6’s from 1940-62 according to your reference to p.n. 1112403. It would only follow that a 216 distributor in a pinch could be installed in a 1962 235 or 261 and although it might not run at its best performance level it would still physically work, does that sound correct?

I know that the springs, counter weights, grease cup location, points, etc. were a little different over the years and that the advance curves varied depending on the application. And I’m sure that these performance differences would show up on a dyno but I don’t suppose the average Joe would notice a difference between a 1957 passenger car powerglide distributor if it were installed in a 1950 3800, 216 truck or vise versa.

I have several Chevy 6 distributors rebuilt on the shelf, all with slight physical differences and I have hesitated to interchange them with the stock one in my 1950, 216 for fear of the gears or the oil pump tang not meshing or engaging properly. If this information were valid then it would be welcome news for me since lacking diagnostic equipment there are times that it is easiest to swap parts to eliminate a problem.

Thanks Gene,
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

First the gears.
Yes, when Chevrolet changes from a forged camshaft to a cast in 1954 (except some solid lifter engines) they changed the gear material to make it combatible with the cam material. At that time there were two different gears made for replacement. Later the newer gear was sold for all applications. It my experiance I have never seen a later gear being eaten up when used in a forged cam engine.
The 1937-62 216 and 235 and 261 distributors will al fit the various engines. The 1953 and up have the later tall cap, different rotor, etc. but the lower portion is the same.
The difference in the distributors mainly is the advance curve. See the 1949-53 shop manual as an example. As an example the 1950 235 engine has much less automatic advance at higher RPM's. I experimented with mine and installed a 216 dist. It pinged like crazy if you floored it at 70 MPH. Didn't think that the low compression engine could even ping on todayshigher octane gas.

As the cars got older chevrolet would simplify stocking parts and as the older items were depleted from stock they would replace it with anything that would make the engine run. The other area they did this in was carburetors.